Deer ticks that can carry Lyme disease found across Washtenaw County

WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI - Ticks with the potential to spread Lyme disease have been found throughout Washtenaw County, health officials say.

Deer ticks, also known as blacklegged ticks, were recently spotted across the county, the health department announced on Tuesday, June 6.

"We have a number of emerging deer tick populations locally," said Laura Bauman, epidemiology manager at the Wayne County Health Department. "It's time all residents learn the best ways to prevent tick bites, make tick checks part of their summer routines, and submit ticks for testing."

Transmission season for Lyme disease in Michigan is at its peak in June. The health department recorded 10 cases of Lyme disease in 2017, two of which were likely contracted within the county.

The health department recommends the following precautions to prevent exposure to Lyme disease:

Avoid direct contact with ticks: Walk in the center of trails and avoid wooded and bushy areas with high grass and leaf litter. Tuck your pant legs into your socks.

Repel ticks with DEET or Permethrin repellent: Use the Environmental Protection Agency insect repellent search tool to find the repellent that's right for you.

Conduct tick checks: Examine your entire body, children, pets and gear for ticks immediately after returning indoors. Be sure to check under the arms, in and around the ears, inside the belly button, behind the knees, between the legs, around the waist and in the hair. Quick removal of ticks can prevent Lyme disease infection.

Remove ticks: To remove a tick, use tweezers and grip the body firmly and pull straight out of the skin. Do not twist the tick. After removing the tick, clean the bite area and your hands. Tumble clothes in a dryer on high heat for an hour to kill any ticks you missed.

Submit ticks for identification and testing: Not all ticks or tick species carry disease. You can now submit a photo of a tick to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services for identification. You can also send in a live tick for identification and testing by the State. Or, stop by either of the department's locations in Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor.

Officials believe deer ticks could be present in all Washtenaw County cities and townships, according to health department spokesperson Susan Cerniglia.